Basintale Breaks the Stigma: Why Ghana Must Stop Treating Vocational Skills as Second-Class Careers

Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Chief Executive Officer Malik Basintale has called for a major shift in societal attitudes towards technical and vocational education, insisting that vocational skills must be recognised as essential drivers of economic growth rather than inferior alternatives to formal employment.

He argued that the persistent perception that vocational and technical careers are less prestigious than conventional white-collar jobs undermines the potential of many young people who possess practical skills capable of contributing significantly to national development.

According to him, Ghana must begin to appreciate the importance of skills-based occupations and create an environment where young people are encouraged to pursue careers that match their abilities, interests and employment opportunities.

Basintale’s position highlights the need to reconsider the traditional belief that academic qualifications and office-based employment represent the ultimate measures of professional success.

For many years, vocational careers such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation, welding, tailoring and other technical trades have often been regarded as options for individuals who cannot pursue conventional academic pathways.

However, the YEA CEO believes such perceptions must change if Ghana is to fully harness the productive potential of its youthful population.

He maintained that vocational skills should not be viewed as a fallback option for young people who fail to secure formal employment but as valuable capabilities that can provide sustainable livelihoods and contribute to economic transformation.

Vocational skills should not be seen as inferior alternatives to formal employment, Basintale’s position underscores, stressing the importance of recognising practical expertise as a critical component of national productivity.

The call also comes amid continuing concerns about youth unemployment and the difficulties many young people face in securing jobs after completing their education.

Expanding access to technical and vocational training could help equip young people with practical competencies needed to establish businesses, secure employment and respond to the demands of various industries.

A broader acceptance of vocational education could also encourage entrepreneurship, reduce excessive competition for limited white-collar positions and strengthen the supply of skilled workers across key sectors of the economy.

Basintale’s advocacy places renewed emphasis on the need for collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, employers and families to promote skills development and change negative perceptions surrounding technical careers.

Ultimately, Ghana’s ability to create sustainable employment opportunities may depend partly on how effectively it values and develops practical skills.

His message is clear: vocational education deserves respect, investment and recognition as a pathway to professional success and national prosperity.